“Think Positive? I Already am”: Explorations of Perpetuated Stigma and Resilience Development among HIV-Positive Gay Men in Australia

Gay men living with HIV experience stigma related to their dual minority statuses. Despite advancements in HIV biomedicine and societal acceptance of sexual minorities over thirty years, this demographic continues to report poorer psychosocial outcomes compared to the general population. This thesis explores the contributing factors that influence how sexual orientation and HIV stigmas are experienced, adaptive coping responses employed by men, and challenges faced when accessing HIV support services. Findings highlight the continued psychosocial disparities at an individual, sociocultural and structural level. Recommendations from this thesis can assist researchers, clinicians and HIV services in both stigma evaluation and reduction.